Residents Speak Out on Francis Howell Schools and Students from Unaccredited District

A recent Missouri Supreme Court decision means that students from the Normandy School District will be joining Francis Howell School District for classes on Aug. 8. 

As Patch previously reported, the decision allows students from unaccredited school districts to attend a school in an accredited district, at the expense of the unaccredited district.

Normandy must offer transportation to an accredited district of their choice—Francis Howell—although students aren't limited to attending only that district.

Several Patch readers voiced a mix of concern and support for the additional students. Here's what they had to say:

J.l. Hayes: "Please read the article listed below written about the Normandy School District. It does not matter how close or far St. Louis and St. Charles are from each other, who in their right mind would want this violence and rage coming into their school system? Who is going to fund the extra security for students and faculty, metal detector for weapons? Are my taxes going to increase to help pay for the extra factors that will be needed aside from what the Normandy District is suppose to pay per student?"

Ann Learner: "The residents in the Francis Howell district have a rare opportunity to help turn around the education future of some Missouri students anxious to improve their education opportunities. The students currently living in the Normandy District will grow to adults. Whether they will be educated and productive fellow citizens will in part be dependent on how Francis Howell handles their arrival. 
*Francis Howell has had declining enrollment, and so will have space for some Normandy students, but will take students only up to the District's enrollment capacity. *Normandy will be paying for their transportation and tuition. Tuition is supposed to be computed to cover the average cost of educating any student enrolled in a district and if that cost increases as the enrollment increases, the tuition payments would also have to increase. *It is not the fault of the children that their school district has not met standards."

The Francis Howell School District (FHSD) will host a public town hall meeting on Thursday in the Francis Howell Central High School gymnasium, located at 5199 Highway N from 6-7:30 p.m. 

According to the Francis Howell School District website, the meeting will address questions and give community members an opportunity to express their opinions on regarding the recent student transfer decision.